Hinged Toy with Internal Display Stand

ABSTRACT

An openable and closeable toy with an interior and exterior. The interior has at least one display area for displaying one or more scenes and one or more display items. Similarly, the exterior may also one or more display areas. 
     The device includes a base and at least one compartment door. In the preferred embodiment, the compartment door is attached to the base with hinges so that the compartment door can be opened and close to show various display areas and display items. 
     These display areas and display items may be attachable or detachable. A variety of display configurations is possible for the device described.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to toys used to display scenes frompopular culture. Both children and adults enjoy toys that include scenesand characters from their favorite TV, movies, anime and video games.TV, movie, anime and video game producers often sell licensedmerchandise relating to their content. Many enthusiasts collect suchlicensed merchandise and other items and desire to display them forothers to see.

Many of these items are made of PVC or plastic, but some made of metaland/or wood. Some of these items have great monetary value to theircollectors. Many collectors have sentimental or emotional attachments totheir items and wish to display them for their own enjoyment.

The present invention relates to a configurable toy for displayingvarious scenes and characters.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an openable and closeable toy with an interiorand exterior. The interior has at least one display area for displayingone or more scenes and one or more display items. Similarly, theexterior may also one or more display areas.

The device includes a base and at least one compartment door. In thepreferred embodiment, the compartment door is attached to the base withhinges so that the compartment door can be opened and close to showvarious display areas and display items.

These display areas and display items may be attachable or detachable. Avariety of display configurations is possible for the device described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of the first embodiment of the hinged toy with internaldisplay stand in the closed position.

FIG. 2 is a view of the first embodiment of the hinged toy with internaldisplay stand showing the operation of the compartment doors.

FIG. 3 is a view of the first embodiment of the hinged toy with internaldisplay stand showing the interior of the toy.

FIG. 4 is a view of the second embodiment of the hinged toy withinternal display stand in the closed position.

FIG. 5 is a view of the second embodiment of the hinged toy withinternal display stand showing the operation of the compartment doors.

FIG. 6 is a view of the second embodiment of the hinged toy withinternal display stand showing the interior of the toy.

FIG. 7 is a view of the third embodiment of the hinged toy with internaldisplay stand in the closed position.

FIG. 8 is a view of the third embodiment of the hinged toy with internaldisplay stand showing the operation of the compartment doors.

FIG. 9 is a view of the third embodiment of the hinged toy with internaldisplay stand showing the interior of the toy.

FIG. 10 is a view of the fourth embodiment of the hinged toy withinternal display stand in the closed position.

FIG. 11 is a view of the fourth embodiment of the hinged toy withinternal display stand showing the operation of the compartment door.

FIG. 12 is a view of the fourth embodiment of the hinged toy withinternal display stand showing the interior of the toy.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following detailed description refers to the preferred embodiment ofthe disclosed invention as shown in the attached figures and in thebelow description. This detailed description is not meant to limit thescope of the invention in any way but is intended to disclose thepreferred embodiment/best mode of the invention at the time of filingthis application.

FIG. 1 is a view of the first embodiment of the present hinged toy withinternal display stand 100 shown in its closed position. Hinged toy withinternal display stand 100 is comprised of first compartment door 101,second compartment door 104 and base 106. Also shown are first doorconnection 102 and second door connection 105. Lastly, exterior displayarea 103 is shown, in this case with a monster face molded into firstcompartment door 101 and second compartment door 104.

Any type of image, vehicle or scene may be shown in exterior displayarea 103, including any character (human, animal, insect, fish, alien),vehicle (car, truck, train, etc.), or landscape (outdoor, indoor,fantasy, outer space, underwater) or other imaginable type ofcharacter/vehicle/scene to be displayed. Exterior display area 103 mayspan both first compartment door 101 and second compartment door 104 asshown in this figure, or it may be limited to one of the two compartmentdoors. Further, in this embodiment, a monster face is molded intoexterior display area 103, but exterior display area 103 could displayother scenes by printing, stickers, attachable/detachable scenes or anyother means well known in the art.

In the preferred embodiment, hinged toy with internal display stand ismade from molded PVC plastic, but could be made from any material wellknown in the art such as plastic, metal or wood. It could be producedusing any method well known in the art such as casting, molding,cutting, sewing, 3d printing or machining.

In the preferred embodiment, first door connection 102 and second doorconnection 105 are hinges, but any connection means that allows thedoors to open and close could be used such as latches, tabs, and othertypes well known in the art.

FIG. 2 is a side view of hinged toy with internal display stand 100showing the opening operation of first compartment door 101 and secondcompartment door 104. First compartment door 101 rotates around firstdoor connection 102 while second compartment door 104 rotates aroundsecond door connection 105. In this embodiment, first compartment door101 and second compartment door 104 open outwardly to display theinterior of the toy, but any number of other opening configurations forfirst compartment door 101 and second compartment door 104 are possiblewithin the claims of the invention. First door connection 101 and seconddoor connection 105 are hinges in this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a view of hinged toy with internal display stand 100 with bothfirst compartment door 101 and second compartment door 104 open to showinterior display area 107. Display areas 109 and 112 are visible in thisview. Display area 109 is located on the back of first compartment door101, is a landscape scene of a bridge and is attached to firstcompartment door 101. This area can be used to display any image,vehicle or scene including any character (human, animal, insect, fish,alien), vehicle (car, truck, train, etc.), or landscape (outdoor,indoor, fantasy, outer space, underwater) or other imaginable type ofcharacter/vehicle/scene desired to be displayed by the toy manufactureror in some cases the toy user. Third display area 108 can be molded aspart of first compartment door 101 or it can be detachable from the rearportion of first compartment door 101.

Display area 112 is an area that also may display any kind of character(human, animal, insect, fish, alien), landscape (outdoor, indoor,fantasy, outer space, underwater) or scene desired by the toymanufacturer, or in some cases the toy user. Display area 112 may bedetachable from base 106 or formed as part of the base. Display area 112has one or more individual display locations 108 each that may displayan individual display item 110. In this embodiment, each individualdisplay location 108 is a slot that couples with a matching tab 111 oneach individual display item 110. This embodiment is drawn to a town infourth display area 109 with various characters for the each of theindividual display items 110. There are three individual display items110 in this embodiment. While these are the details related to thisembodiment, any scene could be displayed fourth display area 109 and anytime, of any number, could be displayed as individual display items.Further, in this embodiment, hinged toy with internal display stand,display areas and individual display items are made from molded PVCplastic but could be made from any material well known in the art suchas plastic, metal or wood. These items may be produced using any methodwell known in the art such as casting, molding, cutting, sewing, 3dprinting or machining. Additionally, any mix of materials andmanufacturing methods could be used for the various display areas andindividual display items.

FIG. 4 is a view of a second embodiment of the present hinged toy withinternal display stand 100 shown in its closed position. In thisembodiment, hinged toy with internal display stand is a model of atrain, where both the engine/locomotive and passenger car have hingedopenings to display internal contents. Hinged toy with internal displaystand 100 is comprised of first compartment door 101, second compartmentdoor 104 and base 106. Also shown are first door connection 102 andsecond door connection 105. Lastly, exterior display area 103 is shown,in this case with a train locomotive/engine formed on first compartmentdoor 101 and a train passenger car formed on second compartment door104.

As in the first embodiment, any type of image, vehicle or scene may beshown in exterior display area 103, including any character (human,animal, insect, fish, alien), vehicle (car, truck, train, etc.), orlandscape (outdoor, indoor, fantasy, outer space, underwater) or otherimaginable type of character/vehicle/scene to be displayed. Exteriordisplay area 103 may span both first compartment door 101 and secondcompartment door 104 as shown in this figure, or it may be limited toone of the two compartment doors. Further, in this embodiment, a trainis molded into exterior display area 103, but exterior display area 103could display other scenes by printing, stickers, attachable/detachablescenes or any other means well known in the art.

The second embodiment of hinged toy with internal stand 100 is made frommolded PVC plastic but could be made from any material well known in theart such as plastic, metal or wood. It could be produced using anymethod well known in the art such as casting, molding, cutting, sewing,3d printing or machining.

Further, in the second embodiment first door connection 102 and seconddoor connection 105 are hinges, but any connection means that allows thedoors to open and close could be used such as latches, tabs, and othertypes well known in the art.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the second embodiment of the hinged toy withinternal display stand 100 showing the opening operation of firstcompartment door 101 and second compartment door 104. First compartmentdoor 101 rotates around first door connection 102 while secondcompartment door 104 rotates around second door connection 105. In thisembodiment, first compartment door 101 and second compartment door 104open outwardly to display the interior of the toy, but any number ofother opening configurations for first compartment door 101 and secondcompartment door 104 are possible within the claims of the invention.First door connection 101 and second door connection 105 are hinges inthis embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a view of hinged toy with internal display stand 100 with bothfirst compartment door 101 and second compartment door 104 open to showinterior display area 107. Display areas 109, 112, 113 and 114 are shownin this view. Each display area can be used to display any character(human, animal, insect, fish, alien), vehicle (car, truck, train, etc.),or landscape (outdoor, indoor, fantasy, outer space, underwater) orother imaginable type of character/vehicle/scene desired by the toymanufacturer, or in some cases the toy user. Display area 109 is locatedon the back of first compartment door 101 and is detachable from therear portion of first compartment door 101. Display area 112 is fittedin the base 106 revealed by opening first compartment door 101 and isalso detachable. Display area 113 is fitted in the base 106 revealed byopening second compartment door 104. Lastly, display area 114 is locatedon the back of second compartment door 104 and is detachable from therear portion of second compartment door 104.

FIG. 7 is a view of a third embodiment of the present hinged toy withinternal display stand 100 shown in its closed position. In thisembodiment, hinged toy with internal display stand is the head of astylized cat, where both the upper head and lower portion of the mouthopen to display internal contents. Hinged toy with internal displaystand 100 is comprised of first compartment door 101, second compartmentdoor 104 and base 106. Also shown are first door connection 102 andsecond door connection 105. Lastly, exterior display area 103 is shown,in this case stylized cat head formed on first compartment door 101 andsecond compartment door 104.

As in the first and second embodiments, any type of image, vehicle orscene may be shown in exterior display area 103, including any character(human, animal, insect, fish, alien), vehicle (car, truck, train, etc.),or landscape (outdoor, indoor, fantasy, outer space, underwater) orother imaginable type of character/vehicle/scene to be displayed.Exterior display area 103 may span both first compartment door 101 andsecond compartment door 104 as shown in this figure, or it may belimited to one of the two compartment doors. Further, in thisembodiment, a stylized cat head is molded into exterior display area103, but exterior display area 103 could display other scenes byprinting, stickers, attachable/detachable scenes or any other means wellknown in the art.

The third embodiment of hinged toy with internal stand 100 is also madefrom molded PVC plastic but could be made from any material well knownin the art such as plastic, metal or wood. It could be produced usingany method well known in the art such as casting, molding, cutting,sewing, 3d printing or machining.

Further, in the third embodiment first door connection 102 and seconddoor connection 105 are hinges, but any connection means that allows thedoors to open and close could be used such as latches, tabs, and othertypes well known in the art.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the third embodiment of the hinged toy withinternal display stand 100 showing the opening operation of firstcompartment door 101 and second compartment door 104. First compartmentdoor 101 rotates around first door connection 102 while secondcompartment door 104 rotates around second door connection 105. In thisembodiment, first compartment door 101 and second compartment door 104open outwardly to display the interior of the toy, but any number ofother opening configurations for first compartment door 101 and secondcompartment door 104 are possible within the claims of the invention.First door connection 101 and second door connection 105 are hinges inthis embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a view of hinged toy with internal display stand 100 with bothfirst compartment door 101 and second compartment door 104 open to showinterior display area 107. Display areas 109 and 112 are shown in thisview. Each display area can be used to display any character (human,animal, insect, fish, alien), vehicle (car, truck, train, etc.), orlandscape (outdoor, indoor, fantasy, outer space, underwater) or otherimaginable type of character/vehicle/scene desired by the toymanufacturer, or in some cases the toy user. Display area 109 shows afictional multi-armed animal in a specific pose, is located on the backof first compartment door 101, and is detachable from the rear portionof first compartment door 101. Display area 112 shows a fictionallandscape scene with multiple characters, is fitted in the base 106revealed by opening first compartment door 101, and is also detachable.

In this embodiment, each individual display location 108 is a slot thatcouples with a matching tab 111 on each individual display item 110.There are two individual display items 110 in this embodiment, each afictional character related to the scene. While these are the detailsrelated to this embodiment, any scene could be displayed and any numberof individual display item 110 could be displayed. Further, in thisembodiment, hinged toy with internal display stand, display areas andindividual display items are made from molded PVC plastic but could bemade from any material well known in the art such as plastic, metal orwood. These items may be produced using any method well known in the artsuch as casting, molding, cutting, sewing, 3d printing or machining.Additionally, any mix of materials and manufacturing methods could beused for the various display areas and individual display items.

FIG. 10 is a view of a fourth embodiment of the present hinged toy withinternal display stand 100 shown in its closed position. In thisembodiment, hinged toy with internal display stand is the head of afictional monster, where the head opens to display internal contents.Hinged toy with internal display stand 100 is comprised of firstcompartment door 101, first door connection 102 and base 106. Exteriordisplay area 103 is shown, in this case fictional monster formed onfirst compartment door 101.

As in the first, second and third embodiments, any type of image,vehicle or scene may be shown in exterior display area 103, includingany character (human, animal, insect, fish, alien), vehicle (car, truck,train, etc.), or landscape (outdoor, indoor, fantasy, outer space,underwater) or other imaginable type of character/vehicle/scene to bedisplayed. Exterior display area 103 may span both first compartmentdoor 101 and second compartment door 104 as shown in this figure, or itmay be limited to one of the two compartment doors. Further, in thisembodiment, a fictional monster is molded into exterior display area103, but exterior display area 103 could display other scenes byprinting, stickers, attachable/detachable scenes or any other means wellknown in the art.

The fourth embodiment of hinged toy with internal stand 100 is also madefrom molded PVC plastic but could be made from any material well knownin the art such as plastic, metal or wood. It could be produced usingany method well known in the art such as casting, molding, cutting,sewing, 3d printing or machining.

Further, in the fourth embodiment first door connection 102 is a hinge,but any connection means that allows the doors to open and close couldbe used such as latches, tabs, and other types well known in the art.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the fourth embodiment of the hinged toy withinternal display stand 100 showing the opening operation of firstcompartment door 101. First compartment door 101 rotates around firstdoor connection 102. In this embodiment, first compartment door 101opens outwardly to display the interior of the toy, but any number ofother opening configurations for first compartment door 101 are possiblewithin the claims of the invention. First door connection 101 is a hingein this embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a view of hinged toy with internal display stand 100 withfirst compartment door 101 open to show interior display areas 107 and109. Each display area can be used to display any character (human,animal, insect, fish, alien), vehicle (car, truck, train, etc.), orlandscape (outdoor, indoor, fantasy, outer space, underwater) or otherimaginable type of character/vehicle/scene desired by the toymanufacturer, or in some cases the toy user. Display area 107 shows afictional scene of an open mouth under an alter, is located on the backof first compartment door 101, and is detachable from the rear portionof first compartment door 101. Display area 109 shows a fictional animaland landscape scene with a character, is fitted in the base 106 revealedby opening first compartment door 101, and is also detachable.

In this embodiment, each individual display location 108 is a slot thatcouples with a matching tab 111 on each individual display item 110.There are three individual display items 110 in this embodiment, each afictional character related to the scene. While these are the detailsrelated to this embodiment, any scene could be displayed and any numberof individual display item 110 could be displayed. Further, in thisembodiment, hinged toy with internal display stand, display areas andindividual display items are made from molded PVC plastic but could bemade from any material well known in the art such as plastic, metal orwood. These items may be produced using any method well known in the artsuch as casting, molding, cutting, sewing, 3d printing or machining.Additionally, any mix of materials and manufacturing methods could beused for the various display areas and individual display items.

Although the present invention has been described in relation to theabove disclosed preferred embodiment, many modifications in design,implementation, systems and execution are possible while stillmaintaining the novel features and advantages of the invention. Thepreferred embodiment is not meant to limit the scope of the patent inany way, and it should be given the broadest possible interpretationconsistent with the language of the disclosure on the whole.

1. A toy comprising: a base with a base inner surface and a base outersurface where the base inner surface comprises a first display area; atleast one compartment door with a compartment door inner surface and acompartment door outer surface, where the compartment door has an openposition and a closed position and is attached to the base, where thecompartment door outer surface comprises a second display area and thecompartment door inner surface comprises a third display area; and oneor more individual display item where the individual display item isattachable and detachable from the toy.
 2. The toy of claim 1 furthercomprising a second compartment door with a second compartment doorinner surface and second compartment door outer surface.
 3. The toy ofclaim 2 where the second compartment door outer surface comprises aportion of the second display area.
 4. The toy of claim 2 where thesecond compartment door outer surface comprises a fourth display area.5. The toy of claim 1 where the compartment door is attached to the baseby a hinge.
 6. The toy of claim 2 where the second compartment door isattached to the base by a hinge.
 7. The toy of claim 1 where the firstdisplay area is attachable and detachable from the base.
 8. The toy ofclaim 1 where the second display area is attachable and detachable fromthe compartment door.
 9. The toy of claim 1 where the third display areais attachable and detachable from the compartment door.
 10. The toy ofclaim 1 where the one or more individual display items include a tabthat is sized to couple with a corresponding slot on the toy.
 11. Thetoy of claim 1 where the toy is made from a material selected from thegroup consisting of PVC, plastic, rubber, wood and metal.
 12. The toy ofclaim 1 where the toy is manufactured by a process selected from thegroup consisting of casting, molding, cutting, sewing, 3d printing andmachining.